Palestinian Cause Remains Central To UAE's Foreign Policy And Humanitarian Efforts

Saqr Ghabash, Speaker of the Federal National Council (FNC), highlighted the UAE's unwavering commitment to the Palestinian Cause as a central element of its foreign policy since 1971. He emphasised that the UAE has consistently opposed any attempts to deny Palestinians their rights through political and diplomatic means. "This stance was clearly demonstrated during the events in Gaza, where UAE aid to our people and our brothers there exceeded 40% of the total international humanitarian assistance received. This is a duty that the UAE has embraced with certainty and conviction in its role towards the people in Palestine, to alleviate their suffering and support their steadfastness on their land."

Ghabash reiterated that, given the current situation and rapid developments affecting Palestine, the UAE maintains its firm position in defending Palestinians' right to security and peace. This reaffirmation follows President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s statement on 19 February this year, in which he declared that the UAE rejects the forcible displacement of our people in Gaza and affirmed that the reconstruction of Gaza must be linked to a two-state solution, so that the region and the world may enjoy lasting peace.

Prev

Next

The FNC Speaker delivered these remarks at the 7th Arab Parliament Conference held at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo. The event saw extensive Arab participation, including Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States; Brahim Boughali, President of AIPA; and Mohammed Ahmed Al Yamahi, President of the Arab Parliament. Saqr Ghabash said, "We gather here today, and we had hoped that our meeting would be centred on peaceful coexistence; however, the reality, in all its details, places us at a critical and pivotal moment in the history of our central cause — the Palestinian cause — which continues to suffer from the Israeli occupation along with all its attendant destruction and ongoing attempts at displacement."

He continued by expressing deep sorrow over Gaza's suffering due to Israeli occupation. The human toll has been immense with countless civilians affected. "At this moment, the human losses and material destruction have exceeded all bounds," he noted. Tens of thousands have been martyred or injured while infrastructure lies devastated.

Ghabash criticised proposals suggesting reconstruction projects as solutions for Palestine's issues. He argued these ideas aim to displace Palestinians from Gaza under false pretenses. "In reality," he stated, "this is nothing but a rejected attempt to empty the Gaza Strip of its Palestinian inhabitants — the rightful owners of the land — and to impose forced solutions that ignore historical rights." These efforts undermine international legal resolutions affirming Palestinians' right to establish an independent state based on pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as capital.

In May 2024, acting as head of UN's Arab Group, UAE submitted a draft resolution supporting Palestine's full UN membership eligibility. This move garnered backing from 143 states within UN General Assembly—a significant step towards achieving two-state solution while boosting Palestine’s global standing.

Support for Regional Allies

The UAE reaffirms Hashemite custodianship over Jerusalem's holy sites—both Islamic and Christian—and fully supports Egypt’s and Jordan’s positions against displacing Gaza or West Bank residents. Additionally, Ghabash condemned calls for Saudi Arabia allocating land for Gazans but praised Kingdom’s steadfast stance on Palestinian cause alongside two-state solution advocacy.

The conference underscored regional unity amidst ongoing challenges faced by Palestinians under occupation. Through diplomatic channels like these gatherings among Arab leaders committed towards justice-driven resolutions rooted firmly within international law frameworks remains crucial moving forward.

With inputs from WAM